Improved harness-tug buckle



waited tatrt ttm-111 citta.

GEORGEH. BUoKrUs, or oAmom-onro, Asslenon To HIMsnLF, c. AULTMAN, A. c.

- TONNER', AND P. s. soWERsjoF SAME PLAGE.

Letters .Patent o. 92,011, dated June 29,1869.

my im roved buckle. p Y

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same..

Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the buckle applied to a trace.

Figure 4 is a front view of the same.

Figure 5 is a plan ofthe same.

The nature of my invention consists, first, in the novel construction of the frame of a h'amess tug buckle, said frame being so constructed as that the tongue-base shall be at a suicient height above the balance of the franie to allow the trace to pass under it and over the tongue-axle, in a plane parallel to thev lower portion of the frame, and said axle being so arranged, with reference to the tongue-base, as that the buckle-tougue shall stand nearly-at right angles with the trace to be buckled, .whereby'I obtain a square strain on the trace, and avoid throwing said trace ont of linewith the buckle-frame, thus making the'trace less liable to undue strailn and wear, and allowing the whole connection to lie down flat to the side of thel horse, thus rendering it very neat and ornamentalin appearance.

My invention consists, secondly, in the novel coustruction 'of a tongue for a harness-buckle, with a flame of the construction just described, said tongue being formed to a curv'e, which is nearly at right angles with the trace, through the thickness of said trace, and .from thence rises gradually to the tonguebase on the buckle-frame, so that. a squarestrai'u is thrown on the trace during a draught on the same, whereby its durability is much increased. Another great advantage resulting from the use of this tongue is, that owing to its peculiar form, it draws out of the trace by the simple' act-of drawing the trace forwardinthe buckle, whether the end of said 'trace beor be not removed from the trace-loops, andalso slides into the hole of the trace whenever 'the same is drawn backward through the buckle, thus making it perfectly easy to buckle or uubuckle the trace, for the purposeof changing its length or forrem'oving it from the buckle, and dispensing with all that`trouble in getting the tongue out of the trace', so common iii the old form of pivoted tongue-buckles. I

My invention consists, thirdly, in so constructing and arrangingy the tongue, tongue-axle, and frame of a harness-buckle, constructed as. .desci'ibed,.as that tion sntlciently to allow the tongue to clear the trace,

whereby I avoid any danger of the trace coming unbuckled `from any slackness in the same, caused by any irregular movement of the horse or load.

To enable others skilled in the art t0 make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construe tion and operation.

The frame of my buckle vis composed of the part 0, of the general form shown, (which has the tongueaxle E secured thereto,) the front ends B B of which are turned so as to be nearly at right angles with the plane of the part C, as `seen in g. 2.

'The ends B B are secured to vthe tongue-base A, which can be of the broad, flat form shown, or of any other suitable form.

This base is so arranged, with reference "to the tongue-axle E, as that a tongue pivoted to this axle, and having its end resting on the base A, shall be nearly at right angles with the plane ofthe part O.

' The tongue D is secured to the axle E in an ordinary manner, and is curved into such a form as that the part a. b shall have ageneral direction perpendicular to the plane of the part C of the frame, or at least nearly perpendicular to said plane, as shown, in iig. 2, while the part b c (l forms a gradual curve around to the base A, the general culye of the whole tongue, forming a gradual curve from the 4point a to the end d of thetongue, which rests squarely on the tongue-base A,

as shown. Y Thebuckle is secured iu the strap F by the rear bari of the part v(l, as shown in figs. 3 and '5, and the trace His buckled into the buckle A O D, and has its end secured in the loops G G, as shown.

When in this position, the tongue-base A lies 'flat on the trace H, and the part C of the buckle is in line with the strap E and parallel to the' trace lil, so that the whole connection lies up close to the side of the horse, thus making a smooth and finished appearrance.v

The tongue D, as will be readily seen from the fore'- going description, stands with the part inthe trace H, at about right angles with the plane. of the trace, thus avoiding that oblique position of the tonguein the leather seen iu the ordinary buckle, which makes avlarge, unsightly hole necessary, and throws the trace4 ont of line with the buckle, giving it a poor appearance, and, from its position with respect to the tongue and tongue-base, tends'to tear the trace apart at the ongue-hole in the trace.

Now, if thestrap F be grasped by one hand, and

the trace Hbc drawntlrrongh the buckle with the other hand, it is evident that the tongue D will rotate around lthe axle E, and from its peculiar form will slide out of the hole j' in the trace, without any binding in said hole, and in the same manner will slide into said hole, when the trace H is drawn backwardV through the buckle.

The connue D and buckle-frame E O are so arranged with respect to each otherv and the strap F, :is that the end of saidtongue shall rest on said strap when'turned back, the end of the -tongue still remaining in the hole f in the trace, as shown in fig. 3, from which it is readily seen that the trace H cannot slide any further back until the buckle-frame and vtrace are throw'n out of their ordinary parallel position into the position indicated by the dotted vlines in fig. 3, so that there is no danger ofthe trace coming unbuckle'd from a slacking of the draught on the trace, as such slacking could only bring the trace back into the position shown by full lines in fig. 3; and on again applying the draught, the tongue would at once come into the position shown in iig. 5, thus securely buckling the trace.

lHaving thus fully described my invention,

That I claim therein as new, and desire t-o secure by Letters Patent.' is-J 1. The buckle-frame O E B B A, herein described, having the tongue-base A, arranged with respect to the tongue-axle E and the portion (l of the fram'e, substantiallyhas and for the purpose specified.

2. The buckIe-tongue D, constructed as described,

'when used in combination with the buckle-frame C E A,

constructed as specified, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

3. So constructing and arranging the Aframe C, tongue-axle E, tongue D, and bucklestrap F, with respect to each other, as that the tongue D shall prevent'the trace H from sliding back suficiently to allow the tongue to free itself from the trace, exceptwhen the frame C and trace H arev made to assume an angle with each other, substantiaiiy as and-for the purpose specified.

As evidence that I claim the bregoing,I have here unto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses, this 23d day of March, 1869.

GEO. H. BUGKIUS.

l fitnesses RUTH K. ABBOTT, JOB ABBOTT. 

